Three arrested on drug charges after delivery of cigarette pack to jail

BLOOMFIELD, Mo. -- Three people are in the custody of the Stoddard County Sheriff's Department as the result of video surveillance footage from the Stoddard County Jail in Bloomfield.

According to Sheriff Carl Hefner, Matthew Taylor, 28, of Batesville, Ark., was allegedly shown on the video throwing a cigarette pack over the back fence of the jail to a trusty. The trusty was told to deliver the pack to Taylor's brother, Chris Taylor, who has been in custody since Feb. 14 for allegedly assaulting a police officer in the Dexter, Mo., Police Department lobby.

"The trusty received what they believed to be methamphetamine for payment to bring cigarettes to the jail," Hefner said.

On Thursday a search warrant was executed at an apartment in Dexter that was occupied by Jennifer Nicole England, 34, and Russell Gordon, 49. Matthew Taylor, who has been identified as a fugitive from Arkansas, was reportedly also staying at the residence, according to the sheriff.

After England granted permission for deputies to search the apartment, deputies found a felony amount of marijuana in an upstairs bedroom and approximately one-half ounce of methamphetamine inside England's purse.

Also confiscated was a set of digital scales and methamphetamine in Gordon's shirt pocket and in his sock.

Matthew Taylor is charged with felony delivery or manufacture of an imitation controlled substance. His bond is set at $200,000 cash only.

England and Gordon are charged with felony possession of a controlled substance. England's bond was set at $150,000 cash only. Gordon is being held under a $125,000 cash only bond.

All three remain in the Stoddard County Jail.

Pertinent address:

Bloomfield, Mo.